Bangalore: Playback legend Manna Dey, who was said to be in critical condition till a few days ago, is recovering in hospital.

The 94-year-old singer was taken off the ventilator two days ago and was even relaxing on a chair and listening to music, sources at Narayana Hrudayalaya, said.

Dey has been undergoing treatment for the past one month at the hospital mainly for neuro-respiratory problems. The singing legend also has kidney functioning problems for which he is undergoing dialysis.

"As he has undergone a tracheostomy, he is only on liquid diet. He is very much conscious and has been interacting with his daughter," sources said.

Doctors had been trying to wean him off the ventilator for the past three days and were successful in doing so on the afternoon of July 5.

Dey, well-versed in Hindustani classical music, has sung over 3,500 songs in different languages including Hindi and Bengali, in a career spanning seven decades.